Steam-separating trap.



Hu. 655,6Il. Patented Aug. 7, |900. J. R. 00X, G. H. WRIGHT & W. H. REYNOLDS.

STEAM SEPARATING TRAP.

(Application led Apr. 4, 1898. Renewed June 18, 19Uu.)

2 Sheets-Sheat l.

(No Model.)

No. 655,611. Patented Aug. 7, 1900. .1. 11. cox, s. 11. wmGHT a1 w. 11. REYNOLDS.

STEAM SEPARATING TRAP.

(Application led Apr. 4, i898. Renewed June 1B, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(N9 Model.)

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Nrrn STATES PATENT Ormea.

JOIIN R. COX, GEORGE I-I. WRIGHT, AND WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

STEAM-SEPARATING TR'AP.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,611, dated August 7, 1900.

Application led April 4, 1898. Renewed .Tune 18,1900. Serial No. 20,765. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that we, JOHN R. COX, GEORGE H. WRIGHT, and WILLIAM H. REYNoLDs,citi zens of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Steam- Separating Trap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved steam-'separating trap or steam-eliminator for Y securin g a supply of dry steam to an engine or other machinery to which it is desired to admit steam comparatively free from moisture and in as dry a condition as possible. The present invention removes the surplus humidity from the steam, collects the water of condensation, and automatically discharges the accumulated water when the same reaches a predetermined level.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, andthe minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an automat-ic steam-separating trap constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. is a detail section showing the relation of the parts when the trap is exhausting.

Corresponding and like parts'are referred to in the following description and-indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The casing containing the vital parts is composed of an upper part land a lower part 2, secured together in any convenient way, preferably by having their opposing ends outwardly flanged and receiving bolts or machine-screws.

The upper portion of the casing is provided at its sides with offstanding collars 3, the one constituting an inlet and the other an outlet and each adapted to have the intercepted ends of a line of steam-pipe connected thereto. A battle-plate et is located centrally of the casing and in the upper portion thereof and lies in a plane at right angles to a plane passing centrally through the collars 3, so that the steam entering the inlet impacts against the baffle-plate and is spread thereover, thereby causing the moisture contained therein to be condensed and separated therefrom, the dry steam passing over the upper end of the baffle-plate and out through the outlet. In order to present 4a maximum amou nt of condensing-surface,the baffle-plate is fluted orcorrugated. The lower end of the baffle-plate is formed with a lateral flange 5, which limits the downward spread of the steam and prevents it passing beneath the baffleplate,\vhich would beobjectionable,inasmuch as it would be liable to carry olf a certain percentage of the water of condensation. This flange 5 inclines outwardly and downwardly and terminates a short distance from the adjacent wall of the casing, thereby providing a narrow passage for the escape of the water of condensation received upon the flange 5 from the baiiie-plate. Notched lugs 6 are formed with the sides of the casing and are locatedat different levels and receive the edge portions of the baffle-plate, which latter is slipped into position from the open end of the casing when the cap 7 is removed.

. The lower portion 2 of the casing, which forms the water-chamber of the device, receives a iioat S, adapted to receive and contain water of condensation and to rise and fall upon the change of level of the watercontained in the casing. As shown, the float is a bucket, which receives the water of condensation as the same accumulates. A discharge-pipe 9, leading to a convenient point of discharge, communicates with the lower portion of the casing, so as to -Siphon off the water when the same reaches a given level. This discharge-pipe passes through the casing at a distance from its lower end and communicates with a suction-pipe 10 within the casing and terminating a short distance from the bottom thereof. This pipe 10 extends within the bucket-float nearly or quite to the IOO bottom thereof, whereby very little Water is left in the bucket When the discharge-pipe is through draining off the accumulated Water prior to interrupting the communication thereof With the interior of the trap. A fitting 11 is located about at the juncture of the pipe 9 With the casing, and this tting contains a valve 12 and a piston 13, the latter operating in the outer branch of the fitting and being in line with the valve 12 and the latter seating against the inner end of the branch of the fitting opposite and in line with the branch containi-ng the piston 13. The area of the valve 12, against which the steam exerts the pressure, is less than the area of the piston 13. Hence the difference in pressure is in favor of the piston, the superior pressure serving to hold the valve seated and the discharge-pipe closed.

A steam-pipe 14 connects the outer end of the tting 1l with the upper part of the lower portion of the casing 2, and its receiving end is bent vertically within the casing, as shown at 15, and is adapted to be closed by a valve 16, which is controlled in its movements by the float 8 and the change of level of the Water. A lever 17 is pivotally connected with an extension of the vertical end portion 15 of the steam-pipe 14 and passes transversely through an opening of the valve 16. The inner or opposite end of the lever 17 has pivotal connection with the stem 18 of the float, whereby the movement of the float causes a corresponding movement of the valve 16. A drain-pipe 19 has connection with the lower end of the casing and is supplied with a valve 20, which can be opened to admit of the water in the lower portion of the casing being drawn oif and the sediment blown out.

Vhen the device is interposed in a line of steam-pipe and the steam is passing therethrough, the excess of moisture is removed therefrom by means of a baffle-plate in the manner set forth. When the water of condensation in the lower portion of the casing or trap reaches a given level, the valve 16 is closed, thereby shutting off the supply of steam to the pipe 14 and permitting the valve to open by reason of the pressure thereon. The water is forced out through the pipe 10 into the discharge pipe 9 and carried off thereby to the point of discharge. The float being relieved of the Weight ofl the Water is buoyed upward and unseats the valve 16, thereby permitting the steam to again pass through the pipe 14 and operate against the piston 13, whereby the valve 12 is forced upon its seat, thereby closing the communication between the discharge -pipe and the trap. This opening and closing of the valve is automatic and takes place without any attention on the part of the operator.

It will be understood that While the trap is in use the lower portion of the casing thereof is designed to hold sufficient water to normally iioat the bucket-float S when the latesami ter is empty in a plane which unseats the controlling-valve 16, and thereby permits the steam under full pressure to pass through the pipe 14 and operate against the piston 11, thereby closing the valve 12 upon its seat and cutting oif communication through the discharge-pipe 9. As the Water of condensation accumulates in the bucket 8 such bucket necessarily becomes heavier and sinks Within the water in the bottom of the casing until the valve 16 reaches its seat and cuts off the .steam from the pipe 14, whereupon the pressure of steam is exerted against the accumulated water in the bucket with sufficient force to open the valve 12 and discharge the water through the pipe 9. The discharge of the accumulated Water from the bucket Sis quite rapid, and when the bucket is empty the same necessarily becomes sufficiently light to again float to a normal position and unseat the controlling-valve 16.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A steam-trap, comprising` a casing having a steam inlet and outletand provided at the bottom witha water collecting and discharging chamber, a baffle-plate interposed between said inlet and outlet, a buoyant containingiioat in the lower portion of the casing adapted to have a rise-and-fall movement and receive the water of condensation from the baffle-plate, said water of condensation also falling into the said chamber, a Siphon discharge-pipe having one member thereof arranged within the float, a valve fitted to the siphon discharge-pipe, a steam-pipe connecting the upper portion of the collecting and discharge chamber with a part of the siphon discharge-pipe exterior of the trap,said steampipe having a valve located Within the collecting and discharge chamber and also provided With a chamber, a piston in the latter for controlling the valve in the dischargepipe, and a connection between the float and the valve of the steam pipe, whereby the valve of the discharge-pipe may be closed by the pressure of steam within the trap-casing.

2. A steam-separating trap comprising a casing having a steam inlet and outlet and provided at the bottom with a water collecting and discharge chamber, a bucket-ioat adapted to be buoyed by water of condensation within the water collecting and discharging chamber to have a rising-and-falling movement and also to receive and contain water of condensation, asiphon discharge-pipe having one member arranged within the casing and extending into the bucket-float, a valve in said siphon discharge-pipe, a steam-pipe having one portion located Within the casing and provided with a valve and also with a chamber, said chamber being in communication with the valve of the discharge-pipe, a piston in the said chamber for controlling the valve in the discharge-pipe, a connection between IIO the Valve in the portion of the steam-pipe ourown wehave hereto affixed oui1 signatures within the easing and the bucket-oat, and in the presence of two witnesses.

means Within the trap-easing above the float JOHN R. COX. and the water Collecting and discharging GEORGE H. WRIGHT. chamber for separating purposes and direot- WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS. ing the water of condensation downwardly Witnesses: into the ioat and said chamber. W. H. LAYTON,

In testimony that we Claim the foregoing as J AMES S. MONTGOMERY. 

